Got a question on baby and toddler safety around the home? Qualified nurse and First Aid Trainer Emma Hammett answers your questions - £200 voucher to be won

[GraceEMumsnet]

Created for Duracell

- Everyone who shares a question on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw
- One lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice
- Emma will be back to answer a selection of your questions

About Emma:
“Emma Hammett is a qualified nurse and award-winning first aid trainer with over 30 years’ healthcare and teaching experience. Emma is the founder of multi award-winning First Aid for Life and Onlinefirstaid.com, providing practical and online courses throughout the UK. She is an acknowledged First Aid expert and authority on accident prevention, health and first aid. Emma writes for numerous online and print publications and regularly features on the radio and on TV. She is also the author of numerous books, including the Amazon Best Seller: ]].”

Here’s what Emma has to say:
“As parents we will do everything possible to protect our children and keep them safe. However, many people are unaware of the serious dangers posed by lithium coin cell (button) batteries if swallowed. Every year, numerous children experience life-changing injuries from swallowing these, and horrifically some die because of them. This is totally avoidable. Which is why I am delighted to be supporting Duracell in raising awareness of this issue and preventing this happening in the first place. Duracell already uniquely has child resistant packaging and coats their batteries in Bitrex to prevent children from putting them in their mouths - this campaign goes one step further.

#Take10 encourages all parents and child carers to take 10 minutes to identify which gadgets are using these batteries, ensure they are safely secured and remove any unsecured batteries and spare ones out of reach. This is a vital campaign that will undoubtedly save lives and suffering. Please share with friends and family.”

Maybe you’d like to know how to child-proof your kitchen? Or you might have concerns around toys and devices in the home? Perhaps you’re unclear of the risks batteries hold for children? Whatever your question, post on the thread below for Emma to answer.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

I’m about to have my second and I’m worried that my first will unintentionally endanger him with toys that are heavy, have small parts, etc. Other than constant supervision and keeping things out of reach as much as possible, I’m wondering what techniques I could use with my 4 year old to keep both him and baby safe?

Where do you put your toddler when you need to keep them safe, unsupervised for a moment, when they are able to climb out of every playpen/over every baby gate. I have a spider man wannabe and have nowhere to put him for those times when I need him safe somewhere!

Hi Emma! Any tips for when they suss the baby gate but it's still unsafe for them to go into the room?

^Good evening, my son is currently 19 months old and as much as i love him he is a total nightmare some days, he finds extension cords very interesting he is constantly picking it up and trying to put a different adapter or something in there, for some reason he doesn't want to leave our dogs food bowl alone he is constantly picking pellets(dry food) from there and eats it, we have a small dog so to put it on the counter wouldn't work, everything my son can get his hands on is going straight to his mouth I can't look away for a split second, it is driving me insane...how would i know if he had swallowed something he wasn't supposed to but doesn't choke on it like for instance a 10c coin? I battel a lot when it comes to feeding, somedays he wil simply refuse to eat any food and only have fruits should i be worried? he recently started slapping and holding his ears especially after bath time I did take him to our local government clinic and they said there's nothing wrong but i am not sure because why would he still be doing it? my son refuses to sit in a car seat he never use to have this problem everytime it's fighting and shouting but he simply scream cries until he is taken out and sits on your lap he also doesn't sit still for very long, how would i know if my son is feeling unsafe or scared when i leave him with a close family member, we recently moved and now we live on a farm type of idea it's very bushy and according to neighbors there is a lot of snake activity during summer...what should I do when my son does get bitten by one (i hope and pray to GOD it never happens), but i need to know what to do every minute is vital, i think they said it's the black mamba thats everywhere to be found, *how would i know if my son got bitten by a poisonous spider or insect, and how should i treat it? ...i am not sure if the following question is allowed if not please forgive me...
*what is your overall view on covid 19, the vaccine for adults is there reason to be uncertain because i have heard that it thickens your blood??? who from your point of view should not take the vaccine? i want to ask you would you please answer it from your personal of view and not from the view of a medical staff member if you can understand, do you think todlers his age 19Months sould get vaccinated when it becomes available? should i enroll my son into pre-primary now and let him play for a few hours or should i wait a bit longer? please don't take this the wrong way...at what age should i start disciplining my son, i won't abuse him or over do it but if i say no he must know it's wrong hope you can see it from my point of view...

thank you in advance and i am sorry for going bossies

My little one loves animals, in particular dogs. Our dog wouldn't hurt a fly, but Im concerned DS will now be too confident playing with other dogs.

What's the best way to encourage his love of animals, whilst making him slightly more wary?

That's so shocking to read that that kind of battery can be so dangerous! I can't think what other things in my house would use a battery like that - what are some examples of household objects that I should check? And what are the symptoms of a child that has swallowed a battery - DCs are always up to no good while my back is turned!

Hey Emma, I'd love to know some first aid tips - what do I need to keep in the first aid box, and at what point does a fall or a scratch become serious enough for profressional help?

is it true that plug socket covers are dangerous?

I think most people know to keep certain things out of reach, like cleaning products and washing powder etc. What are the things that aren't so obvious that could be dangerous that we need to consider?

Is anti climb paint suitable for toddlers?

Our cat’s food, water and litter tray are all kept in the kitchen - how can we stop LO from diving head first into either of them?! And what are the dangers if any is digested?

My baby is soon to be of an age where she starts to grab things to put in her mouth. I am wondering if there's anything I can do during the process of weening to teach her the difference between food and non-food items as early as possible?

Which is the best on-line health and safety/first aid training course ?

I feel to have all angles covered, anti-slam door stops, corners protected, and cupboards locked - but at what age would you recommend removing these - I don't want to do more harm than good now we are all going into 'normal' life again where these safeguards are not in place - and they like to run around - and are still at table height ?

Is there a CE / Kite Mark which you are aware of which means toys are as child friendly as possible (the screw lid over batteries is the most important) So I can let relatives know this Christmas to they can be on the look out for them before buying (that way I avoid the dangerous toys this Christmas)

How can you make sure your garden is safe? Or indoor plants? Ds2 put EVERYTHING in his mouth - how do you know which plants you can safely get??

What's the best approach to helping children become more careful without making them fearful? For example, how to help them understand that being curious is a good thing, but that anything putting them in physical danger (climbing ladders, tasting something that has been found etc) should be avoided. How can we help sharpen their self-defence mechanism?

That should say...sharpen their self-preservation mechanism!

I’m living with my mum and know a safety gate will not be enough he’s getting active now at 7 months any advice

@Quietvoiceplease this! I am so concerned about my twin toddlers being run over that I worry that I'm going to make them too fearful to go on the road. Any advice on road safety? Particularly with one adult, two children

Is there a safe way to prevent a gap between a toddler bed mattress and a bed guard. I constantly worry about the gap that seems to be created that my little one almost always seems to gravitate towards

At what age can children be safely left alone in the bath?

What are first aid kit essentials? Is there anything really useful that isn't obvious?

I'd love to hold a first aid course for all the parents and carers who attend playgroup to raise awareness on choking, scalding and bumps and grazes - do you do an information pack/video, or who would be able to come to playgroup to give this training - I'd like to be able to have a dummy baby to practice CPR and the choking hold to dislodge the object - any advice most welcome - I feel really unprepared on how to perform CPR

At what age can you move from an angelcare-style bath seat to just a rubber mat? Thank you